Rockets from Gaza bombard southern Israel

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Some 20 rockets fired from Gaza struck southern Israel on Oct. 28 and 29. The rockets landed in unpopulated areas and did not cause any injury or damage.

In response, Israeli air strikes hit what the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement were a rocket launching site and a “terror activity site” in the northern Gaza Strip, as well as a terror activity site in the southern Gaza Strip.

Hamas’ military wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, claimed responsibility for the rocket fire. The attacks were “in response to the continued Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip,” the brigades reportedly stated.

More than 70 rockets and mortars were fired last week from Gaza at southern Israeli communities. More than 615 rockets fired from the Gaza Strip have hit communities in southern Israel since January, including 150 in October, according to the IDF.

On Oct. 28, Israel’s Cabinet unanimously approved full protection from rocket fire for all communities located up to 4.3 miles from the Gaza border, at a cost of about $70 million. Previously, communities up to three miles from the border were protected. — jta